Proto (tools)
Encyclopedia
Stanley Proto—more commonly known simply as Proto and historically known as Plomb—is an American
industrial hand tool
company. It is a division of Stanley Black & Decker. The company is credited with creating the first combination wrench
.
shop making chisels in Los Angeles
. In the 1930s, Plomb released what is commonly credited as the first combination wrench
.
Plomb acquired a number of companies during the 1940s, including Cragin Tool of Chicago, Illinois in 1940, P&C Tool of Oregon
in 1941, Penens Tool of Cleveland, Ohio
in 1942, and J.P. Danielson of Jamestown, New York
in 1947.
In 1946, Plomb was sued by another tool manufacturer—Fayette R. Plumb, Inc., now a brand of Cooper Hand Tools
—for trademark infringement. The company began manufacturing its tools with the Proto name, a portmanteau of "professional" and "tools," in 1948. In 1957, the company began operating as Pendleton Tool Industries.
In 1964, Proto was acquired by Ingersoll Rand
, and in 1984, it was acquired by Stanley and became Stanley Proto Industrial Tools.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
industrial hand tool
Hand tool
A hand tool is a device for performing work on a material or a physical system using only hands. The hand tools can be manually used employing force, or electrically powered, using electrical current...
company. It is a division of Stanley Black & Decker. The company is credited with creating the first combination wrench
Wrench
A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning....
.
History
Proto was founded in 1907 by Alphonso Plomb, Jacob Weninger, and Charles Williams as the Plomb Tool Company, a small blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shop making chisels in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. In the 1930s, Plomb released what is commonly credited as the first combination wrench
Wrench
A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning....
.
Plomb acquired a number of companies during the 1940s, including Cragin Tool of Chicago, Illinois in 1940, P&C Tool of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in 1941, Penens Tool of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
in 1942, and J.P. Danielson of Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
in 1947.
In 1946, Plomb was sued by another tool manufacturer—Fayette R. Plumb, Inc., now a brand of Cooper Hand Tools
Cooper Tools
Cooper Tools is a division of Cooper Industries, a Houston-based manufacturing company. It is composed of Cooper Hand Tools and Cooper Power Tools, which manufacture hand tools and power tools respectively.- Cooper Hand Tools :...
—for trademark infringement. The company began manufacturing its tools with the Proto name, a portmanteau of "professional" and "tools," in 1948. In 1957, the company began operating as Pendleton Tool Industries.
In 1964, Proto was acquired by Ingersoll Rand
Ingersoll Rand
Ingersoll-Rand plc is a $13 billion global diversified industrial company founded in 1871. The Ingersoll Rand name came into use in 1905 through the combination of Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Company and Rand Drill Company...
, and in 1984, it was acquired by Stanley and became Stanley Proto Industrial Tools.